Mystic — The Stonington Board of Police Commissioners approved plans Thursday by the Hartford Marathon Foundation and the Mystic Rotary Club to stage a May 31 half-marathon, which will include an accompanying 10-kilometer race, that could attract up to 1,600 runners. 

At its meeting last month, the board unanimously voted to table a decision because commissioners wanted race organizers to first ask residents and businesses along the race course, especially those along Coogan Boulevard, if they have concerns about the impact of the event. They also wanted to ensure there is enough parking for the competitors and those accompanying them. 

At Thursday’s meeting, board Chairman Mel Olsson commended the Rotary Club and marathon foundation for doing a lot of work on the plan, something he said made the board’s decision easier. 

Board member Harry Holt also thanked the two groups for presenting a detailed course layout, time projections for when runners will clear areas and parking plans. 

“Thank you for being so professional,” he told the marathon foundation CEO and Executive Director Beth Shluger. 

“It’s what we do,” said Shluger, whose 22-year-old Glastonbury-based organization stages 32 road races and triathlons each year across the state and in Westerly that attract between 500 and 20,000 athletes each. 

Shluger pointed out to the board that the tagline on the marathon foundation’s promotions for its races states “Great races in great places.” 

“I can’t think of a better place than Mystic to make that statement,” she said. 

Organizers have now secured 1,700 parking spots at Olde Mistick Village, where the race will start, Mystic Aquarium, the Monsanto facility on Maritime Drive, the Coogan Farm Nature and Heritage Center and other locations for runners, spectators and volunteers, which they say is a sufficient number. 

Past Rotary Club President Barry Saluk said that, since last month’s board meeting, he met with 11 businesses in the Olde Mistick Village area to explain the plan and any potential impacts and received “100 percent support” for the race. 

Organizers now need to get approval from the Town of Groton and state Department of Transportation. 

Plans call for the race to begin at 7 a.m. in the Olde Mistick Village parking lot, then head down Route 27 to the downtown and across the drawbridge onto the Groton side of the village. The race will then head down River Road, turn onto the northern section of Route 27 and then on to Jerry Browne Road, Mistuxet Avenue Extension, Pequot Trail, Flanders Road, Deans Mill Road and back to Mystic Aquarium. The course will be open for three hours. 

The Rotary Club would provide the volunteers and would use the revenue it receives from the event to help fund its charitable work in the community, according to Saluk.

j.wojtas@theday.com

Twitter: @joewojtas